tumulong
/tuˈmuloŋ/
To help in Tagalog is to say tumulong. Wiktionary also lists tulungan.
Meaning: transitive: provide assistance to (someone or something) (verb)
Ways to say it
| Tagalog | IPA |
|---|---|
| tumulong | /tuˈmuloŋ/ (Standard Tagalog) |
| tulungan | /tuˈluŋan/ /tuluˈŋan/ |
The verb forms of 'help' are used to express providing assistance to someone or something. The noun form tulong refers to the assistance itself. In a moment of extreme distress or a life-threatening emergency, one might cry out saklolo to call for rescue, whereas tulong is a general term for assistance.
Which one should you use?
Use tumulong when you are focusing on the act or the intention of helping. Use tulungan when the verb is directed toward a specific person or object that is receiving the help.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The word tulong serves as the root for the verb and can also function as a noun meaning 'help' or 'assistance'.
How do you pronounce it?
/tuˈmuloŋ/
Did you know?
- In Filipino culture, the concept of helping is deeply tied to bayanihan, the tradition of neighbors helping a family move their entire house by carrying it on their shoulders.
- The word tumulong uses an infix, which is a sound placed inside the word rather than at the beginning or end, to change its meaning.
- The word saklolo is derived from the Spanish word socorro, reflecting the long history of Spanish colonial influence on Filipino emergency terminology.
Examples in context
- Tulungan mo si Tom.Help Tom.This sentence shows how to use tulungan to direct help toward a specific person.Tatoeba #4560626 by kanlaon, translation #2203858 by CK
- Ayaw mo ba tumulong?Don't you want to help?This sentence uses tumulong to ask about the intention to help.Tatoeba #8653148 by England, translation #2011751 by CK
- Tulungan mo naman ako.Help me.This sentence uses tulungan to request help for oneself.Tatoeba #8660487 by artemio, translation #266065 by Zifre
- Alice: Pwede po bang tulungan ninyo ako? Nawala po kasi ang aking cellphone. Shopkeeper: Oo, tulungan kita. Kailan mo huling nakita ang cellphone mo?Alice: Can you please help me? I lost my cellphone. Shopkeeper: Yes, I'll help you. When was the last time you saw your cellphone?
- John: Tulungan mo naman ako, please. Hindi ko maabot ang mga libro sa itaas ng shelf. Mary: Sigurado, tutulungan kita.John: Please help me. I can't reach the books on the top shelf. Mary: Sure, I'll help you.
- 120 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Mark and Maria are in the kitchen preparing for a party.
- MarkMaria, maaari ka bang tumulong sa akin dito?Maria, can you help me here?
- MariaOo, Mark. Ano ang gagawin ko?Yes, Mark. What should I do?
- MarkPakiayos naman ang mga plato.Please arrange the plates.
- MariaWalang problema, gagawin ko na.No problem, I will do it now.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “help” translations and entries tumulong, tulungan, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
